I used to ride along this line at just this time as a boy from my home in Shropshire to my grandparents home near Pantyfynnon- I used to sit at the front where there was a glass window through which could see the driver and the road ahead. Once or twice I was allowed in to the cab and blew the whistle for the driver. I remember waiting by the crossing at Llandrindod Wells for the Shrewsbury line and the change over. Such a beautiful railway and even better in the days when you could chat with the guard and poke your head out of the window ❤️
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing. I first travelled this line in 1971 & still make the effort to travel it about twice per year. It's a great shame, that reliability has been an issue since Covid & up until fairly recently & deterred many from travelling ( as well as the extended journey times). Up until Dec 2022 ( & for around 30 years) the timetable was really poor as well, with only 4 trains per day. It then improved but TfW intend going down to 4 through trains again from Dec 24, as a result of poor loadings for which they are to blame. It needn't be this way, as the line does actually have so much potential!
I never experienced the line in the 'modern era' depicted. My grandfather had finished as a Ganger on the line prior to Nationalisation, having served the L&NWR and LMS. In the 50s I regularly spent my summer holidays with them in their railway house, so my memories are of an 8F, Black 5, Fowler 2-6-4 tank kind of railway which still ran to Swansea Victoria. In other words, before the serious decline. It's good that it has survived, the scenery is well worth seeing. As an aside, I also experienced the Swindon cross-country units when running between Hereford and Shrewsbury with buffets open, though I don't think that lasted too long. One of the things we have lost since this film was shot is the ability to look over the driver's shoulder as we go along. It was a very popular thing to have. The Japanese still do it, why can't we?
I remember hearing a passenger on this line saying that its continued survival was due to it passing through six marginal constituencies! This was in 1979.
Great to see how much better kept the stations and equipment are these days. Also heartening to see that the modern railway recognises the Welsh language in its signage.
You obviously haven't travelled on the line in recent years! Cancellations and late running are all too common, and apart from Llandrindod none of the stations have any facilities other than a open and windy shelter. And although station signage is bilingual, the on-train info is only in English.
What a wonderful heirloom to have and thank you for sharing it with us. This is such a beautiful part of the world and lovely to sit back and watch it pass by.
I see some comments about Welsh station names. That reminds me that when I lived in Shrewsbury there was a station announcer who used to read out all the station names on this line (and, so far as I can tell, pronounced them correctly). It was pure Dylan Thomas listening to the recital!
Thank you very much for this superb video presentation which is very much appreciated. This line certainly does have superb scenery but I would certainly have preferred to travel the line by a class 120 as featured in this film, rather than the class 153 which was in use at the time of my journey. The main thing is, it can still be travelled.
He wasn't really a narrator by trade, he enjoyed the video making process. He'd also never been to Wales, well not for many years. He knows it wasn't great, but he tried his best.
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Lovely film about a very scenic and underrated line we’re fortunate to still have.
I used to ride along this line at just this time as a boy from my home in Shropshire to my grandparents home near Pantyfynnon- I used to sit at the front where there was a glass window through which could see the driver and the road ahead. Once or twice I was allowed in to the cab and blew the whistle for the driver. I remember waiting by the crossing at Llandrindod Wells for the Shrewsbury line and the change over. Such a beautiful railway and even better in the days when you could chat with the guard and poke your head out of the window ❤️
Had the privilege of working on that line with brilliant staff for transport for wales
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing. I first travelled this line in 1971 & still make the effort to travel it about twice per year.
It's a great shame, that reliability has been an issue since Covid & up until fairly recently & deterred many from travelling ( as well as the extended journey times).
Up until Dec 2022 ( & for around 30 years) the timetable was really poor as well, with only 4 trains per day. It then improved but TfW intend going down to 4 through trains again from Dec 24, as a result of poor loadings for which they are to blame.
It needn't be this way, as the line does actually have so much potential!
I never experienced the line in the 'modern era' depicted. My grandfather had finished as a Ganger on the line prior to Nationalisation, having served the L&NWR and LMS. In the 50s I regularly spent my summer holidays with them in their railway house, so my memories are of an 8F, Black 5, Fowler 2-6-4 tank kind of railway which still ran to Swansea Victoria. In other words, before the serious decline.
It's good that it has survived, the scenery is well worth seeing.
As an aside, I also experienced the Swindon cross-country units when running between Hereford and Shrewsbury with buffets open, though I don't think that lasted too long.
One of the things we have lost since this film was shot is the ability to look over the driver's shoulder as we go along. It was a very popular thing to have. The Japanese still do it, why can't we?
I remember hearing a passenger on this line saying that its continued survival was due to it passing through six marginal constituencies! This was in 1979.
I've heard that as well
Great to see how much better kept the stations and equipment are these days. Also heartening to see that the modern railway recognises the Welsh language in its signage.
You obviously haven't travelled on the line in recent years! Cancellations and late running are all too common, and apart from Llandrindod none of the stations have any facilities other than a open and windy shelter. And although station signage is bilingual, the on-train info is only in English.
Fortunate to travel on it once ( north to south ) very enjoyable.
What a wonderful heirloom to have and thank you for sharing it with us. This is such a beautiful part of the world and lovely to sit back and watch it pass by.
I see some comments about Welsh station names. That reminds me that when I lived in Shrewsbury there was a station announcer who used to read out all the station names on this line (and, so far as I can tell, pronounced them correctly). It was pure Dylan Thomas listening to the recital!
My dad tried his best, but it still makes me smile.
Thank you very much for this superb video presentation which is very much appreciated. This line certainly does have superb scenery but I would certainly have preferred to travel the line by a class 120 as featured in this film, rather than the class 153 which was in use at the time of my journey. The main thing is, it can still be travelled.
No mention or view of the many 'request stop' stations along this line.
Apologies, if I ever find something with them on, I will post it.
An excellent film. Shame about the dreadful pronunciation of Welsh towns though.
My dad did try his best, but you aren't the first person to mention that. I do apologize on his behalf.
@@AarchiveRailways please don't apologize, it obviously couldn't have been easy for him.
Why couldn't the commentator pronounce Welsh names???????
He wasn't really a narrator by trade, he enjoyed the video making process. He'd also never been to Wales, well not for many years. He knows it wasn't great, but he tried his best.
First learn to pronounce Welsh names
My dad was from Devon, he could barely do English.